Good Day to be a Bass

I woke up to the sound of some older Japanese couples playing tennis on the court next to where I’d parked for the night. I said hello before making some scrambled eggs and a salad using the leftovers from my steak night the other day, then hit the road.

It was about a three-hour drive to Lake Biwa through some stunningly beautiful Japanese countryside. The lake is the largest in Japan and known as a great spot for fishing – something I’m hoping to take advantage of. As I got closer to the lake, the trees changed from evergreen to bamboo and then to cherry blossom once I reached the shoreline – all very Japanese.

I wanted to pick up a cheap fishing rod to give bass fishing a try, so I added a stop at a tackle shop near the lake and had a look around. I had absolutely no idea what to buy, and after wandering aimlessly for ten minutes, I went back to the car to check with ChatGPT about what I should be looking for. Armed with my newfound knowledge, I went back in and picked up the ‘Bass Pro Starter Kit’, which included a six-foot rod, a reel, soft bait, and a fairly realistic-looking fish lure with hooks hanging off it. The whole lot cost me about £25 – not too bad, considering how expensive some of the more professional kit was.

I found a car park right next to the lake and parked up so the view from my bed out the windscreen was of the lake and mountains in the distance – probably the best view I’ve had so far. I walked a short way along the shore to what I thought looked like a good fishing spot and cast the bait out into the lake. Needless to say, I didn’t catch anything, but the process was quite therapeutic, and the views of the lake were absolutely stunning. A storm began to roll in as the sun was setting, and even though I had my head torch with me, I decided to call it a night and head for shelter in the car. Conveniently, the fishing rod fits nicely on my internal roof rack next to my skis – ready for another go in the morning.

The rain stopped around 9 p.m., so I used the opportunity to make some pasta – although the Parmesan I’d had with me in the warm car since Niseko didn’t smell all that great, so I went cheeseless. After watching a couple more episodes of House, I called it a night.

More fishing planned tomorrow, and possibly a trip up into the nearby mountains.